Open QCOW2 file - The best software for opening .qcow2 files

QCOW2 files: what are they and how do I open them?

Are you facing difficulties opening unknown files on your computer, or wondering exactly what this file is?
We've got the information and best software solutions for opening these files effortlessly.

QEMU Copy-On-Write data

Files with qcow2 extension can be found as one of the default disk image file types from QEMU.

Further details:

The qcow2 file extension was used from version 0.9 of QEMU for one of its disk image format.

QCOW image format is one of the disk image formats supported by the QEMU processor emulator. It is a representation of a fixed size block device in a file. Benefits it offers over using raw dump representation include:

Smaller file size, even on filesystems which don't support holes (i.e. sparse files)
Copy-on-write support, where the image only represents changes made to an underlying disk image
Snapshot support, where the image can contain multiple snapshots of the images history
Optional zlib based compression
Optional AES encryption

Open file with:

QEMU

A generic machine emulator and virtualizer

Qemu Manager

A management tool for the QEMU emulator

What is the meaning of a file extension?

File extensions are characters that appear after the dot in a computer file's name. For example, the file "unknown-file.qcow2" has the file extension "qcow2". This is used to identify which program should open the file or what file type it is.
File extensions help you organize and manage files. They provide a quick and easy way to identify and associate the file type with the appropriate software.

We can help you open your file

In our database, we have collected a huge number of different file extensions, detailed descriptions, and programs that can be used to open or otherwise work with the file extensions listed in our database.
This database is an invaluable resource for users who want to understand better file extensions and what they can do with them. It also allows users to know different file types with the same purpose.

Only verified software links are provided

We have verified every software listed in our database. The software listed in our database includes links to the developer's or software's website. These links should allow you to download the right program for each file type. Using verified software from reputable sources helps minimize the risk of malware and viruses infecting your computer.